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Why a Fancy Office is Not a Sign your Employer Values You

Trendy decor, gaming consoles, or even coffee machines. You’ve probably seen photos of an office with these, or maybe even worked in one.

A comfortable and aesthetically-pleasing office does wonders for your emotional well-being, especially if you’re a white-collar worker spending at least 40 hours a week there.

But not all the glitters is gold. Does a nice office mean the company truly values you? Not necessarily.

It’s easy to think that your salary, especially when highly satisfactory, is the one and only sign your employer wants to keep you around. But you should look at the bigger picture, not just how you’re paid for the next 12 months.

Next time a company makes you an offer, look out for these things as well.

Insurance

If you already have your own insurance, it doesn’t mean you don’t need to expect your employer to provide you one.

At minimum, you would already have insurance through SOCSO, which is mandatory to contribute by all employees in Malaysia. Called the Employment Injury Scheme, you can make claims for medical treatments on injuries as a result of accidents in the workplace or during your commute.

You might think that’s enough, but it would be prudent to not settle for that. Think about it, what happens when you run into an accident that renders you unable to work, or worse? How then will you take care of your loans, and your family?

Your employer can help you in such situations by providing you life insurance. Should you meet an untimely death, it can pay out between RM100,000 to RM1,000,000. That’s a big load off your family.

At the very least, you should be provided with medical insurance. Falling ill and getting hospitalized still cost money, especially if it eats into your unpaid leave.

Accidents, unfortunate as they may be, can happen to any of us. Best to make sure your employer has you covered.

Training & development

Let’s face it. A company hires you to fulfil a certain role, that’s what you’re good for. But as an employee and a human being, your role shouldn’t remain stagnant.

If your employer values you, you will be properly trained. Not just for your current set of responsibilities, but your future ones as well. Depending on your industry, there are many services in Malaysia that can offer you and your colleagues training and development. To sharpen your skills, both technical and the soft sort.

Considerations for your physical well-being

This would be a bonus, and would definitely make a great benefit to have.

White-collar jobs mostly involve sitting at a desk for hours, and sitting is said to be very harmful to our health. A company who values their people in the long-term should be sensitive to the effects of office life to their physique.

Employers can address this on different levels. It can come in the form of standing desk options, or wellness program perks. At the very least, they can choose their office location to be near a gym.

Conclusion

So don’t be suaded by beanbags and pool tables, be sure that the company really takes care of you.

To be clear, these aren’t deal breakers, especially when you’re going for your first or second job. But the moment you gain leverage in employment negotiations, start with insurance.